Call Me “Curly”

Big news first. I may have my foot in the door again on the Farrelly Bros.Three Stooges film.

“How?” you ask.

“Oh, and Indian!” I respond…Here’s the scoop. Jim Carrey was cast as Curly in the film but he bowed out. Maybe being bald and fat isn’t his thing. But I’ve been settling into this role for a long time.

After shooting the Ringer with The Farrelly Bros. I told them that I was VERY interested in playing the role of Curly. Pete Farrelly sent me a bunch of Curly tapes and DVD’s to study. I put together an audition which you can see by clicking HERE.

Funny, huh? My friend Paul Wojciak shot it and was a HUGE help in putting it all together. Now you can be a HUGE help as well and help with a word-of-mouth campaign.

Pete and Bobby Farrelly already think the world of me and Pete even called to let me know that I was at the top of their list and they hadn’t read anyone else besides Jim Carrey for the role. That’s a huge compliment because nobody calls you in Hollywood when you don’t get the role….Especially the Exec. Producer. I’m a big fan of Jim Carrey and I didn’t feel I was losing out when they cast America’s Top Comedy Star as the funniest Stooge, Curly.

But so many people have urged me to convince the studio that I’m the right choice as well.

My sister Mary is helping me put together a word of mouth and letter-writing campaign that will teach Hollywood a thing or two about how much St. Louis loves the Stooges and how good St. Louis is at writing letters and spreading word of mouth…and of course the rest of the country. There are some loud mouths and prolific writers elsewhere (New Jersey, New York, I’m lookin’ at you…) but we’re going to have to start by asking every St. Louisan to help make this a dream come true.

Here’s where you come in…please take about five minutes and write a letter and send it to these three addresses:

Then, please take one more minute to tell three friends about this website and ask them to help. If you have more than three friends…why are you reading this blog?

Thanks in advance. For the fans of Wizards of Waverly Place, I have a fun pic taken on the set of The Wizards of Waverly Place movie in San Juan Puerto Rico. Me and Selena Gomez, kicking it beachside/poolside at the Caribe Hilton.

Bill Chott and Selena Gomez on the set of the Wizards Movie

The Wizards of Waverly Place Movie premeires Friday August 28th on The Disney Channel. Click HERE for more info.

I’ve been pretty busy in LA lately. I’m shooting another two episodes of Wizards of Waverly Place. I can’t wait to read the script and find out what the episodes are all about. In the mean time, I’ll have to have fun times like I did last weekend at the Feel Good Film Festival. I saw a LOT of great movies and heard some great music, Indian food by Chakra and I met a lot of great people there. It truly was a Feel Good Time.

I was really happy to be able to see all those Feel Good Films and was very proud to pick as one of my top five a film shot with a lot of St. Louis actors: Donna Weinsting and Whit Reichert just to name a few. My good friend Rick Hall who is also a Second City alum and great character actor was the lead character, Carter. Rick is also a cousin of Ray Brewer, St. Louis gadfly. It was called “A Slice of Pie” and it was directed by Timothy C. Reischauer who is from St. Louis, just in case you couldn’t figure it out by the name.

They had just gotten back from the St. Louis Filmmaker’s Showcase and were very well received there. They didn’t win best film, but it’s very cool to be nominated for an award like that. Ed Asner got the award for Lifetime Achievement and Patrick Warburton, Andy Dick and Eric Roberts were in attendance, too.

I was not prejudiced at all by the fact that I knew so many people in that film and that I enjoyed it so much. I knew a LOT of the actors, directors and writers who were in this festival, and this one was simply my favorite. It’s about a guy named Carter who lives in a small town and has small town values. He has to make a series of tough decisions on a first date with the girl of his dreams. Despite the risk of “doing the right thing” and flying in the face of the theory that “no good deed goes unpunished.” Amazingly, every time he makes a hard decision and does the right thing he winds up on top, with the girl of his dreams. Sorry if I ruined the ending for you, but it IS the Feel Good Film Festival.

That’s me with two of the other filmmakers I knew at the festival. See, I told you! Jason Benesh produces with Jerry Zucker and we all worked on a pilot for Jerry Zucker that combined game shows, improv and Kafka. I had a great time catching up with Jason and his associate Michael Hatch. They had another great film in the festival called The Mugging about muggers who are paparazzi.

So, it’s getting late and I need to rest for tonight. Please remember to write a few letters and emails on my behalf. You don’t know how much midwestern modesty I have to choke down to self-promote. Have a great weekend, and imagine me choking…on hubris.

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Published by billchott

Bill Chott is currently appearing in Marshall's Miracle, a family film about a courageous dog who survived hardships to triumph as a therapy dog. For five years he was on the Emmy-Winning Disney's Wizards of Waverly Place. Originally from St. Louis Missouri, he is a member of his high school's Hall of Fame, a Broadway Award winner for his work in I Love Lucy Live on on Stage, and the winner of the INNY awards for Best Improv Coach.
He attended Central Methodist University and trained in Improvisation at The Second City. There he worked with such comedy powerhouses as Tina Fey, Steve Carrel, Stephen Colbert among many others.
Bill starred on The Dana Carvey Show, does cartoon voices on PBS, Saturday Night Live and in film, he appeared in Galaxy Quest, Dude Where's My Car, and he was a lead role as Thomas, the Special Olympian who brings home the bronze in the Farrelly Bros. film The Ringer.
View all posts by billchott

22 thoughts on “Call Me “Curly””

Since everyone at Across the Canvas are amongst your biggest fans we will start work on this right away. I will forward the information at ERMP.TV too just because your rock and make me roll over laughing.

hi bill,
i found your site from a friend who shot out a tweet about helping you with your quest.. so here i am LOL i’ll be happy to drop off a few letters, hope it helps you out. stop by and say “hi” if you get the chance! i am really interested in the “feel good festival” and followed the link, our family has a “story” which i’d really love to tell just don’t know the right “people” to get involved… if you have any ideas i’d love to hear them…
best wishes and keep smiling!
shelleyhttp://iamstillstandingafterallthistime.blogspot.comhttp://theplaygroundprincess.blogspot.com

I’m a native St. Louisan who did some Curly impersonations in the 1990’s for the celebrity-lookalike agency Foto-Lang Star Lookalikes (which has been long defunct). I’d say you’ve got a GREAT chance at being cast as Curly! Your “Curly Callback” video is hilarious!

Bill Chott,
One of my experiences as a Curly impersonator was in 1989 or 1990 when St. Louis’ KPLR-TV (Channel 11) had a 26-hour Memorial Day weekend 3 Stooges marathon. The local radio personality Mark Klose did the station breaks wherein Three Stooges wannabe’s could be filmed for those spots. I came out in a pinstripe suit with high-flood pant cuffs, wearing my “vernacular”, or derby, AND the type of walking cane Curly used as a “machine gun” in their films like “Disorder in the Court”.

Here’s a huge vote for YOU to become the Farrelly Brothers’ big-screen Curly! —And I wanna pass along a good-buddy hello from my best friend Tony Crook, who, like you, attended the Ritenour School District.

I have been a fan of the stooges for many years.I hope you don’t think I’m casting asparagus on your acting skills,but you are soitanly not ready to play Curly on the big screen. You do a passable imitation,but so did my Uncle Floyd,may his chubby soul rest in peace.

Thanks for your honest feedback, Danny. No offense taken. I just want to do the best job possible. I’m sure no matter what happens with this film, no one will be able to make every Stooges fan happy. And a lot of people probably will be upset because the original is still so groundbreaking, subversive and hilarious.

If I get the part, then I’ll be very happy. If I don’t, I will have given it my best shot. Either way, I really want to thank you for your opinion and taking the time to watch the video and give your feedback.

Bill Chott,
Hello again! Now that the Farrelly Bros may YET be bringing the Three Stooges to the big screen (without Jim Carrey, thank heavens, because even with excess poundage, he’s too tall and stretched-rubbery-faced to fit Curly). So, if you’re still hoping to be cast as Curly, I’ll have to disagree with the earlier posting by Danny Troxel . . . . you ARE a very good Curly impersonator, and I definitely WILL watch the Three Stooges movie if you’re cast as Curly!!!